McClendon no longer Gamecocks offensive coordinator; USC QBs coach let go
South Carolina football’s time with Bryan McClendon leading the offense started off brightly. It ended with a dud, as the Gamecocks are now searching a new offensive coordinator.
The State confirmed Sunday that McClendon has been stripped of play-calling duties after two seasons — but he has not been fired — while Dan Werner is out as South Carolina’s QBs coach after two seasons. A new offensive coordinator will likely have a background in quarterbacks.
McClendon will remain on staff as wide receivers coach, a source told The State, but he could seek a position elsewhere after the demotion at USC. His offense struggled mightily in 2019, ranking 121st nationally in yards per play and points per game against FBS competition.
After Saturday’s season-ending loss to Clemson, head coach Will Muschamp promised changes and said the offense was in need of repair.
“There’s a lot of different areas that are at fault,” Muschamp said. “It needs to get fixed and that’s what I’m going to do.”
The new hire will be Will Muschamp’s fifth offensive coordinator in his time as a college head coach.
South Carolina is also moving on from strength coach Jeff Dillman, The State has learned.
Gamecocks Athletics Director Ray Tanner declined to comment Sunday on anything related to the coaching situation, but said he was in constant communication with Muschamp. A school spokesperson likewise said there was no official announcement of any changes.
Muschamp’s job status had also been in question, but a few weeks before the Clemson game saw school president Robert Caslen say he was excited to see Muschamp back in 2020.
McClendon’s current contract runs through 2021 at $1 million a year. Were he let go, South Carolina would owe him the difference between that and what he makes at a new job. He also technically would owe the university $300,000 if he ended the deal before Dec. 31, though the school doesn’t have to hold him to that.
McClendon joined South Carolina’s staff when Muschamp arrived in 2016. He was a wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator with Kurt Roper. He played a role in developing top-40 NFL draft pick Deebo Samuel and recruiting four-star receivers Bryan Edwards, Shi Smith and OrTre Smith.
After Roper was let go following the 2017 regular season, McClendon was promoted amid reports he was connected to an opening at Tennessee.
His first season was a prosperous one for the Gamecocks offense. With Jake Bentley throwing to Samuel, Edwards and Shi Smith, the Gamecocks ranked 22nd in the country in yards per play and averaged more than 30 points per game. At year’s end, he was linked to another coordinator opening at Tennessee along with several other jobs, and got a raise to a $1 million a year and an extension.
“Last year was more what we need to be,” Muschamp said. “We’ve averaged over 30 points five times in the last 15 years at the University of South Carolina. And averaged over 400 yards only three times in 15 years when you had probably the greatest play caller in college football history, Steve Spurrier.
“We had a great year (in 2018), and that’s more what we need to be, and we just didn’t manifest itself to that.”
Between injuries and other factors, this season did not go as many in the program planned. The opener saw one of the worst offensive performances in the past few years. Bentley got hurt that day and was lost for the season, while the offensive line was shaken up after that game. Injuries shelled the offense, especially at the right tackle and the pass catching spots.
At the end, the numbers were stark.
“Latter half of the season we struggled offensively,” Muschamp said. “I don’t think we’re far off. I think we’ve got a good young talented roster. We got some good players in our program. I’m extremely frustrated from them. We got to make some changes moving forward.”
Before coming to Columbia, McClendon had spent his entire career at Georgia. A standout wide receivers in the early 2000s, he returned after a brief stint in the NFL and went from graduate assistant to on-field coach, working with running backs and later receivers, as well as becoming recruiting coordinator. He filled in as head coach after Mark Richt was pushed out following the 2015 regular season.
Werner came to USC as a coach with a strong reputation as a steady hand with passers and an expert on run-pass option schemes. He worked with Bentley, and brought in recruits Ryan Hilinski and Luke Doty. He built dynamic offenses at Ole Miss and was part of a national championship team at Miami.
Werner’s contract runs through next season. He makes $700,000 a year, but that will be offset by whatever income he earns at a next coaching stop, should he take one.
This leaves Muschamp looking for the fifth offensive coordinator of his head coaching career. He had Charlie Weis, Brent Pease and Roper at Florida, and then Roper again before McClendon.
This story was originally published December 1, 2019 at 4:09 PM.
